Liam Ridgwell scores Blues' opening goal.

Blues put in a fine performance to earn themselves a 2-1 victory against Sunderland at St. Andrew's this afternoon.

Goals from Liam Ridgewell and James McFadden either side of half time gave Blues all three points, although they were left to sweat for the final ten minutes after Scott Dann was unlucky to score an own goal.

Prior to kick off the club's new Chairman Vico Hui was warmly received by the St. Andrew's faithful after he spoke of his delight at joining the club and his hopes for taking the club forward as one big 'family'.

He also presented Vice President Michael Wiseman with a signed shirt in recognition of his family's involvement with the club over the past 80 years.

Vico Hui

Alex McLeish made just one change from Blues' last game against Arsenal, with Chucho replacing Captain Lee Carsley, who dropped to the bench.

Chucho was partnered up front by Cameron Jerome as McLeish elected to go 4-4-2 with his formation.

In the opening minutes of the game were Blues were put on the back foot by a lively Sunderland attack.

But having weathered the early pressure Blues and began to take greater control of midfield.

The opening chance of the match fell to Blues on nine minutes.

A quick break was followed by some good interplay between James McFadden and Chucho which ended with the Scotsman hitting a curling shot, which was saved by Craig Gordon in the Black Cats goal.

Minutes later Cameron Jerome should have done better as he failed to connect properly with Liam Ridgewell's cross just six yards out and the ball was cleared from deep inside the danger zone.

Then on the quarter hour mark Chucho did brilliantly to give his marker the slip just inside the opposition box but was unable to keep his shot down as it flew over the bar.

McLeish's men continued to press and Larsson was next to try his luck as he volleyed high and wide from 25 yards.

Larsson was the provider on 22 minutes went he sent in a pinpoint corner right on to the head of Roger Johnson, but the Blues centre half headed over as he came under pressure.

The first booking of the game was dished out to Johnson midway through the first half following a lunging challenge on Andy Reid.

Blues had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock on 27 minutes and would have done so had it not been for a brilliant bit of defending by Kieran Richardson.

The lively Chuco provided the ammunition as he slid in an inch perfect ball to the edge of the Sunderland box, where McFadden hit with a crisp side footed goal bound effort, which Richardson somehow managed to block with a last gasp challenge.

Gordon was then forced to pull of a decent save from that man Chucho again.

On 38 minutes Blues finally got the goal that their earlier play had deserved.

Blues were awarded a free kick some 30 yards out which was whipped in by Seb Larsson and just two yards out it appeared to get a small touch off either Cameron Jerome or Liam Ridgewell and flew past the despairing Gordon in the Black Cats net.

Ridgewell claimed it and the match day announcer credited him as the goalscorer.

Sunderland had their first decent chance two minutes later when Andy Reid drove in with the ball, but shot wide from 20 yards.

As half time approached Chucho let fly with another superb effort from distance which drifted just wide of the base of the post.

Half time: Blues 1 Sunderland 0

Within three minutes of the restart James McFadden sent the St. Andrew's crowd into raptures as he doubled his side's advantage.

Larsson chipped a neat ball over the top, which Jerome then fed into the patch of McFadden with the most exquisite of touches.

McFadden turned his marker Phil Bardsley before curling a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of Gordon's net. 2-0 Blues!

Buoyed by the goal Blues continued to press and were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out.

Larsson hit it well, but it was well saved low to his right by the Sunderland keeper.

When Sunderland were actually managing to get out of their own half and attack Blues they were largely resorting to long range efforts with little effect.

On 68 minutes Steve Bruce made a triple substitution as he sought to get something from the game.

Frazier Campbell, George McCartney and Bolo Zenden came on for Steed Malbranque, Jordan Henderson and Lorik Cana.

Blues were not content to sit on their double goal advantage and decided that the best form of defence was attack as they looked to extend their lead.

McLeish made his first changes of the game when he introduced Garry O'Connor in place of McFadden and Gary McSheffrey for Jerome on 76 minutes.

McSheffrey made an immediate impact as he put in a great block to deny Zenden on the edge of his box.

But with the game heading into the last final ten minutes, Sunderland pulled a goal back totally against the run of play.

A free kick was whipped in; Joe Hart came for it but was beaten to ball by Michael Turner who headed it past him towards the empty goal.

Scott Dann attempted to clear it but was only able to help the ball into the gaping net.

A minute later McLeish made his third and final substitution when Lee Carsley came on for Larsson.

On 88 minutes Darren Bent gave Blues a massive scare as he fired a whisker wide of the far post.

Then Blues burst up the end of the pitch and McSheffrey forced a great save from Gordon.

As the game entered stoppage time, Sunderland threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but the Blues rearguard stood firm and helped secure a deserved win for McLeish's side.

Full time: Blues 2 Sunderland 1

Blues: Joe Hart, Stephen Carr, Lee Bowyer, Liam Ridgewell, Seb Larsson (Lee Carsley 82), Cameron Jerome (Gary McSheffrey, 76), Christian Benitez, Barry Ferguson, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, James McFadden (Garry O'Connor, 76).
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Kevin Phillips, Franck Queudrue, Stuart Parnaby.

Bookings: Johnson (24), Ferguson (81), McSheffrey (90)

Goals: Ridgewell (38), McFadden (48)

Sunderland: Craig Gordon, Phillip Bardsley, Michael Turner, Anton Ferdinand, Steed Malbranque (Frazier Campbell 68), Kieran Richardson, Darren Bent, Jordan Henderson (George McCartney 68), Kenwyne Jones, Lorik Cana (Bolo Zenden 68), Andy Reid.
Subs not used: Martin Fulop, Nyron Nosworthy, Paulo Da Silva, David Healy.

Bookings: Gordon (90 + 3)

Goals: Scott Dann (81, og)

Referee Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 21, 723